Navy Moves Toward D-I Program; New Rink Funded

The United States Naval Academy, long mentioned as one of the more likely candidates to eventually become a Division I program, has taken a big step in that direction.

John McMullen, former owner of the New Jersey Devils and baseball's Houston Astros, and a graduate of the Naval Academy, is funding a new hockey arena for Navy, with the intention of using it to form a new Division I team.

Navy currently plays club hockey under head coach Rick Randazzo. The program has made little secret about its desire to play Division I hockey.

The most appropriate fit for Navy would likely be Atlantic Hockey, where Army currently participates. The CHA is also an option, where Air Force currently plays.

The presence of Navy among the ranks of D-I, could also bolster the chances for a Frozen Four bid in Washington, D.C.